BELLAIRE – Bellaire is catching fire at the right time as the postseason looms over the horizon as it won for the third straight time with an 81-71 victory over visiting Shadyside Tuesday night inside the ‘House of Champions’ in boys’ high school basketball action

The Big Reds (4-17) received 19-point efforts from Alex Padgett, Trevor Dowery and Jace Violet, while Michael Dippel rounded out the well-balanced scoring attack with 14.

The Tigers were led by Michael Hendershot’s game-best 27 points. Bryce Sloan added 15 and Anthony Hill 11.

Bellaire led 35-28 at the half and 53-42 after three. The teams combined for 57 points (Shadyside 29-28) as Hendershot netted 16. Padgett scored 13 in the quarter.

The Big Reds drilled nine triples, with Dippel nailing four and Violet three.

Bridgeport 48, River 47

BRIDGEPORT – The Bulldogs trailed 39-34 after three quarters before rallying for the win over the visiting Pilots on Frank Baxter Court inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.

With the score deadlocked at 47 and two seconds left on the clock, Jaleel Vincent connected on the back-end of a two-shot free throw for the game-winning point.

Jaki Threet led Bridgeport with a game-high 19 points. Vincent added 12.

Crestyn Isaly had 14 for River, as did Evan Longwell.

John Marshall 74, Oak Glen 39

MOUNDSVILLE – Preston Watkins poured in 22 points and Jackson Helms added 19 as the Monarchs nearly doubled up the visiting Golden Bears inside the John Marshall Fieldhouse.

Sincere Saunders-Paige added 10 for John Marshall which knocked down 10 bonus goals en route to the lop-sided win.

Noah Willey led Oak Glen with 14.

Buckeye Trail 63, Union Local 45

OLD WASHINGTON – The Jets fell behind 25-11 after one quarter and just couldn’t get back in the game against the host Warriors.

Jacob Stroud had 15 points to lead Union Local. Brody Kerns chipped in 10.

Easton Rominger paced Buckeye trail with 18, with all the points coming on bonus goals. Kyer Eagon added 12, one more than 6-10 Elian Arick.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Cameron 56, Clay-Battelle 29

BLACKSVILLE – Kendra Thomas scored 15 points to lead the Dragons past the host Cee-Bees.

Macy Bertram added 13 for the winners, who rallied from a 17-6 deficit after one quarter.

Cameron led 27-20 advantage at the half and held Clay-Battelle to nine points – one in the fourth quarter – for the runaway victory.